( BW)(AXYS/RHONE-POULENC)(AXPH)(RP) Axys
Pharmaceuticals' Advanced Technologies Division Enters
Combinatorial Chemistry Agreement With Rhone-Poulenc Rorer
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 7, 1999--Axys
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AXPH) announced today that its Advanced Technologies
Division entered into an agreement with Rhone-Poulenc Rorer ("RPR"), a subsidiary of
Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (NYSE:RP) to provide a generic compound screening library
consisting of multiple small molecule synthetic organic compound libraries created using
Axys' combinatorial chemistry technologies. These compounds will add diversity to RPR's
screening library and are designed to enhance RPR's drug discovery efforts. The two year
agreement calls for Axys to provide RPR with structurally diverse compounds as well as
enabling technologies for recreating the generic compound library. Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.
This new agreement marks Axys' second collaboration with RPR signed within the
past month. In December 1998, Axys and RPR entered a collaboration potentially worth
more than $80 million to Axys for the discovery and development of small molecule
therapeutics that inhibit cathepsin S, a human cysteine protease associated with certain
inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis and a variety of
autoimmune diseases.
"RPR is a leading innovator in its acquisition and application of technologies in
pharmaceutical research and we are pleased that they have selected Axys to help enhance
their internal combinatorial chemistry efforts," stated John Walker, chairman and chief
executive officer of Axys. "With this agreement, and our other combinatorial chemistry
contracts with Parke-Davis, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and Signal Pharmaceuticals, the
Advanced Technologies Division is building on its reputation of delivering high quality
compounds which provide new chemistries for screening and lead identification. At the
same time, we are pleased that this new division has so quickly met our corporate goal in
making a positive contribution to Axys' bottom line." In January 1998, Axys formed the
Advanced Technologies Division to capitalize on Axys' capabilities in combinatorial
chemistry.
Robert A. Reed, Ph.D, Axys vice president and general manger of the Advanced
Technologies Division, noted, "This is Axys' third combinatorial chemistry contract with a
major pharmaceutical company. In each case, compound diversity and technology
enablement were considered to be key components of the deal. We have demonstrated our
ability to develop and deliver diversity sets and libraries that further the discovery efforts of
our partners."
Axys Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the integration of life science technologies with a
focus on transforming gene discoveries to drugs. The company has research collaborations
with world-class pharmaceutical companies, covering a broad range of therapeutic areas,
including respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic and infectious disease, as well as oncology
and central nervous system disorders |
